Floribunda rose plant named &#39;Meinoplius&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided that abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis attractive double red-purple blossoms having a lighter coloration on the under surface. The vegetation is strong and a compact bushy growth habit is displayed. Exceptional resistance to common rose diseases has been observed. The plant is well suited for providing distinctive attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meinoplius

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created inFrance by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasthe ‘Meihatoil’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the product of the ‘Korimro’variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the newvariety can be summarized as follows:

‘Meihatoil’×‘Korimro’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) forms strong vegetation,    -   (b) forms a bushy compact growth habit,    -   (c) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis        attractive small double red-purple blossoms having a lighter        coloration on the under surface,    -   (d) displays attractive green foliage with a glossy aspect on        the upper surface,    -   (e) exhibits exceptional resistance to common rose diseases, and    -   (g) is well suited for providing distinctive attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in parks and gardens. Blossoming commonlycommences early in the season.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, ‘Meihatoil’ variety forms dissimilar yellow blossoms. The‘Korimro’ variety forms dissimilar single blossoms and lacks apropensity for repeat blooming.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at LeGannet des Maures, Var, France, by a number of routes, includingbudding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. The plant grows well on itsown roots. Such asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniqueshas shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and arestrictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generationto another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagationin a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meinoplius’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants ofthe new variety were approximately one year of age and were observedduring June while growing on their own roots outdoors at Le Gannet desMaures, Var, France. Standard colors are presented at the bottom of thephotograph for comparison.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the further opening ofthe sepals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showingarrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 3 leaflets—plan view—uppersurface;

FIG. 15 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 5 leaflets—plan view—undersurface;

FIG. 16 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with 7 leaflets—plan view—uppersurface; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a specimen of a cluster of buds, and the openingflowers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) except where ordinary colorterms are utilized. Such common color terms are to be accorded theircustomary dictionary significance. The description is based upon theobservation during May of plants of the new variety at an age ofapproximately one year while growing on their own roots outdoors at LeCannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 144B. — Adult            wood: near Yellow-Green Group 144A.        -   Thorns.—young stems: commonly absent. adult stems:            configuration: generally upright and slightly concave on the            under surface with an ovate base. smaller prickles: over a            stem length of 10 cm approximately 5 having a length of            approximately 0.7 cm, and a coloration of near Red Group 39B            and 39C. longer prickles: over a stem length of 10 cm            approximately 11 having a length of approximately 0.8 cm,            and a coloration of Greyed-Orange Group 166C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Overall appearance.—dense, attractive dark green.        -   Leaflets.—shape: generally oval. number: 3, 5 (most often)            and 7. apex: acuminate. base: obtuse. — size: the terminal            leaflets commonly are approximately 3 cm in length on            average, and approximately 2.8 cm in width on average. —            serration: small and single. — texture: firm and leathery. —            color: young foliage: near Green Group 137A on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under            surface. mature foliage: near Green Group 137A on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under            surface.        -   Stipules.—general appearance: adnate, pectinate, and rather            broad. — length: approximately 1.8 cm on average. — width:            approximately 0.6 cm on average. — color: near Yellow-Green            Group 146D on the upper surface, and near Yellow-Green Group            146B on the under surface.        -   Petioles.—length: commonly approximately 2 cm on average for            the terminal leaflet. — texture: non-glandular on the upper            surface, and commonly with a few prickles on the under            surface. — color: near Yellow-Green Group 146D on the upper            and under surfaces.        -   Rachis.—color: near Yellow-Green Group 146D on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B on the under            surface.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—commonly three to ten or more per stem.        -   Peduncle.—approximately 3 cm in length on average,            approximately 5 mm in diameter on average, smooth in            texture, and commonly near Yellow-Green Group 146B in            coloration.        -   Sepals.—tomentose on upper surface, smooth on under surface,            generally upright, commonly approximately 2.5 cm in length            on average, approximately 0.5 cm in width on average at the            widest point, near Yellow-Green Group 148C on the upper            surface, and near Yellow-Green Group 147B on the under            surface.        -   Buds.—shape: generally conical. — size: small. — length:            approximately 1.2 cm on average. — width: approximately 0.9            cm at the widest point on average. — color: upper surface:            near Red-Purple Group 66D suffused with near Red-Purple            Group 66A. under surface: near Red-Purple Group 62D.        -   Flower.—diameter: approximately 7 cm on average when fully            open. — Shape: cup-shaped. — color (in course of opening):            upper side: near Red-Purple Group 68D suffused with near            Red-Purple Group 66C, and with a spot of near Yellow Group            2D at the base. under side: near Red-Purple Group 62D, and            with a spot of White Group 155D at the base. — color (when            fully open): upper side: near Red-Purple Group 68D suffused            with Red-Purple Group 68A, and with a spot of Yellow Group            2D at the base. under side: near Red-Purple Group 65D, and            with a spot of near White Group 155D at the base. —            fragrance: none observed. — petal number: commonly            approximately 55 on average under normal growing conditions.            — petal shape: with a rounded tip and an obtuse base. —            petal size: commonly approximately 2.5 cm on average in            length and width. — petal arrangement: imbricated and            without petaloids. — petal substance: firm and leathery. —            petal drop: good with the petals commonly detaching cleanly            before drying. — stamen number: approximately 18 on average.            — anthers: regularly arranged around the styles,            approximately 1 mm in size on average, and near Orange Group            24D in coloration. — filaments: commonly approximately 6 mm            in size on average, and near Yellow Group 2D in coloration.            — pistils: commonly approximately 33 on average. — styles:            approximately 1 mm in size on average, and commonly near Red            Group 53D in coloration. — stigmas: commonly approximately 7            mm in size on average, and commonly near Yellow Group 2D in            coloration. — receptacle: shape: funnel-shaped. length:            approximately 5 mm on average. width: approximately 5 mm at            widest point on average. texture: smooth. color: near            Yellow-Green Group 144D.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—strong.        -   Blooming.—early season, very abundant, and substantially            continuous.        -   Tolerance to diseases.—very good for common rose diseases            during observations to date.

Plants of the new ‘Meinoplius’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized bythe following characteristics: (a) forms strong vegetation, (b) forms abushy compact growth habit, (c) forms in abundance on a substantiallycontinuous basis attractive small double red-purple blossoms having alighter coloration on the under surface, (d) displays attractive greenfoliage with a glossy aspect on the upper surface, (e) exhibitsexceptional resistance to common rose diseases, and (g) is well suitedfor providing distinctive attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as shown and described.